Apparatus for the manufacture of glass articles



A ril 22, 1952 A. H. mm 2, 77

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS ARTICLES Filed April 1'7, 1946 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR' f). H. L/WD/G ATTORNEY A. H. LAlDlG April 22,1952 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 17, 1946 0 Z 1 9 z w 5 a g E 1 1 5 a F m. k z fl A 7 a 5 H.W 5 .w y 2 EFL 1 1 5 5 Z .I\-\\)4 vi 41 m j fl W m- Z Y n". M.

ATTORNEY A ril 22, 1952 A. H. LAIDIG 2,593,771

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFAQIURB OF GLASS ARTICLES Filed April 17, 1946 5Shsets-Sheet 3 l 1 a m l I IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII7 I Z1057 I110 vI 195 212 INVENTOR 155 ATTORNEY INVENTOR A. H. LAIDIG APPARATUS FOR THEMANUFACTURE OF GLASS ARTICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 A ril 22, 1952 FiledApri} 2L7, 1946 I ll 7/ Br BY' ATTORNEY April 22, 1952 A. H. LAiDlG2,593,771

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS ARTICLES Filed April 1'7, 1946 5Sheets-Sheet 5 t -i2- 7 JM 55:? JNVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 22, 1952 APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS ARTICLESAlfred H. Laidig, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor to Westinghouse ElectricCorporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication April 17, 1946, Serial No. 662,724

6 Claims.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application, Serial No.491,479, filed June 19, 1943, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to the manufacture of glass articles, andparticularly bulbs for incan-.

descent electric lamps, by means of apparatus involving an improvementover that of the Richardson et al. Patent No. 2,393,265, dated January22, 1946.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is themanufacture without cullet or moil, of glass articles by the provisionof an apparatus for that purpose.

Another object of my invention is to improve on the apparatus formanufacturing glass articles by filling the top portion of a mold withfreelyfiowing molten glass, pressing a portion of said glass between thetop portion of said mold and a plunger insertable thereinto,'releasingthe remainder of said glass for movement into the lower portion of saidmold, depressing said plunger to push said glass into said mold lowerportion, and then introducing air through said plunger to blow saidreleased glass into final form in said mold lower portion.

- A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus formanufacturing glass articles comprising a mold formed as top and bottomportions, means laterally movable between said portions to eitherseparate them or provide free access therebetween to form in eiiect asingle mold, a plunger depressible, first, into the upper portion ofsaid mold to press the upper portion of the glass articleto be formedand, then, after release of the remainder of said glass into the lowerportion of said mold, further depressible to push said glass remainderinto said mold lower portion and then introduce air thereinto forblowing said glass to final form in said mold. Other objects andadvantages of the invention, relating to the particular arrangement andconstruction of the various parts, will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention; Fig. 1 is avertical sectional view of a machine for molding glass articles,together with a fragmentary portion of an associated glass furnace. Fig.2 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan of the mold holding portions of theapparatus, I

showing part of the path that the molds travel during the operation ofthe machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan of one of the mold carriers or carryingdevices.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the v line IX-IX of Fig. 5,showing details of the mold holding portion of the carrier.

I Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view corresponding to the left handportion of Fig. 1 but on a larger scale and with more parts in axialsection, showing the relative positions of the parts during the time amold is being filled with glass from a furnace, and is in the locationdesignated by the reference character I in Fig. '7.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 5 but showing therelative positions of the parts when the mold has reached the locationdesignated by the reference character III in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view on a larger scale, corresponding to Fig. 6, but showingthe relative positions of the parts while the mold is traveling betweenthe positions designated by the reference characters III and IV in Fig.2, the plunger being partly depressed into the mass of glass.

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7, but showing the relativepositions of the parts when the mold has reached the position designatedby the reference character IV in Fig. 2, the plunger having been movedfurther into the mass of glass to press a portion thereof between it andthe upper portion of the mold, aided by suction to withdraw air fromabove the mass of glass and insure that it is pressed into all theinterstices between the associated parts.

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to Fig. 6,.but showing the relativepositions of the parts when the mold has reached the location designatedby the reference character V in Fig. 2, the supporting plate having beenwithdrawn to release the glass, not pressed into the upper portion ofsaid mold around the plunger, for travel into the lower portion of themold, which lower portion has moved upwardly to engage the upper portionand form in effect a complete unitary mold.

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 9, but showing the relativepositions of the parts when the mold has reached the location designatedby the reference character VI in Fig. 2, the plunger having at thispoint moved downwardly into the sagging glass to preform the lower ormain portion of the bulb, while the pressed or upper portion is held inplace because of its having cooled sufiiciently, also assisted by thesuction applied to the upper edge thereof.

Fig. 11 is a view corresponding to Fig. 10, but showing the relativepositions of the parts when the mold has reached the location designatedby the reference character VII in Fig. 2, the plunger having beenslightly withdrawn for the admission of compressed air to blow the glassin the mold.

Fig. 12 is a view corresponding to Fig. 11, but showing the relativepositions of the parts when the mold has reached the locationdesignated. by the reference character VIII in Fig. 2, the glass articlebeing then expanded to the fullest extent by compressed air.

Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to Fig. 12, but showing the relativepositions of the parts when the mold has reached the location designatedby being then opened and the glass article :or bulb dischargedtherefrom.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view corresponding'to Fig. 5, but showing amodification.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view of the modification of Fig. 14, butshowing the parts in the'position corresponding with Fig. 8.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view of a succeeding ,position of the samemodification, corresponding with the phase of the first'embodimentillustrated in Fig. 10.

"Fig. 17.is a view*ofasubsequent, position of the parts of the samemodification, corresponding with thephase .of the first embodimentillustrated 'in'.Fig.i13.

1Fig..l8 is aperspective View of the modified form'of sliding'plate usedin said modification.

Apparatus of Figs. 1 230.13, inclusive vertical standards or posts BZeXtending from the "base plate-53 thereof and from-the upper-portions.of. which extend braces, those designated '54 extending downwardly andoutward-1y, and those designated 55extending horizontally and radially,

-with"their ends connected by blocks 58, attached "totbra'cing' plates5-! of the'circular frame, formed 'o'f'camelementsis' and 59 whichwillbe referred toflater.

Theframe'fifl =also'carries a generallycylindrical-or slightlyfrusto-conical casting 6!, which in turn carries bearing casting 62,respectively provided with bearings 63 and 64 in which is. mounted a"shaft '65.

The shaft 65 has a'bevel gear "66 at its lower end, a spur gear '6!inter- --'mediate-itsends, and a spur gear 68 at its upper "end-all'ofsaid gears being keyed to the shaft,

and said spur gears serving to drive rotatableparts of the machine, aswill be subsequently described.

'The shaft is driven from a source of power, suchJas an electric motor59, mounted on the base 53 ofthe frame 59, through pulleys H and i2 andconnecting belt 13, said pulley 12 being mounted on a jack shaft Msupported by brackets and 16,.also mounted on the base plate 53, andcarrying bearings Ti and T3. The shaft 14 carries a bevel gear 79 keyedthereto and meshing with the gear'GB for driving the shaft 65.

The spur gear 68 meshes with teeth 8i on a mold carrier spider 32 fordriving the same about the vertical axis of the frame 50. This spider 82preferably comprises an annular casting rotatable onbearings 83,36. and.85, and provided adjacent its circumference with apertures 86 carryingbushings or bearing members 8'! in which are rotatably mounted stubshafts 88 extending downwardly from the mold carriers 89. A crank arm"cross member :said'rack bars H2 and II-3, serves to operativelytiesaid'bars together formovement inopposite 4- Si is secured to thelower end of each shaft 88 and carries a roller 92 traveling in a camtrack at, carried by a shelf casting at for causing the mold carriers toangle as they revolve about the axis of the spider 32, as illustrated in2.

The spur gearfi! engages teeth of an annular gear 95 mounted on thelower portion of a hollow cylindricaldriving member 9t for theplungercarrying plate 9?, to the inner peripheral por- 10 tion of whichit is fastened, as by means of the reference character IX in Fig. 7,themold connecting and bearing-carrying casting 88 and screws 99. iheplate 9'! is rotatably mounted on a bearing IGI, supported on an annularplate I82,whichlatterismounted on a generally cylindrical member H33extending from the cast- The'peripheral portion of the plate 97 carries.a seriesof castings its, each provided with bearings Hi5 for one of theplunger sleeves or "housings Hi5.

Each mold carrier 59, the series of which is shown in outline inFig.2,.isinaccordance with groove of a cam III which is carried by theannular .platemember I02, as most clearly shown in Fig. l. Slidablymounted on each mold carrier frameiiltarerack'bars H2 and H3, the former.connectedto the outer mold carrier device H4, and the latter connectedto the inner mold carrier device H5. An. idler gear H6, pivoted on aill-of each frame I68 between directions, when therack bar .iIz. .ismoved by engagementzof its roller ii-ii. which .ismounted on avertioaLpivot. II 9 extending therefrom, with mold-opening :and closing.cam I21, .as shown most clearly 1 and 2. .-A coil spring I22 connectseach rack member with its frame for holding the roller I iuagainst itscam I2 i thereby keeping the mold members closed, except when apositively actuated by said cam. .A coil spring I23, connecting eachframe $8 with the spider .82, keeps the frames in retracted positions,with their cross -members II? --engaging adjustable stop devices E24extending from the blocks iiii, except when positively-actuated bythecamIIi.

.Each m01d1i25, as: shown most clearly inFigs. 3,4;5iand 6, comprises a.top or upper portion I26 and :a bottom or lower portion I27, all formedpaste made of cork and-shellac, about /ci of an inch thick. The uppermold portions may be formed with threads I33, if they are to make lampbulbs with screw-threaded bases or necks.

The upper outer portion I28 of each mold I25 is held in its outer moldcarrier device IIG by a preferably heat-insulating bushing section I34,while the upper innerportion I29 of each mold I25 is held in itsinner'mold carrier device IIE by 'a preferably heat-insulating bushingsection I35, as .shown'in Figs. 3 and 5.

Provision is made for oscillating the lower portion of each mold and forthis purpose each lower outer section I3I is held by a preferablyheat-insulating bushing section I36 mounted on a roller bearing deviceI31, pivoted to a ball bearing device I38, as indicated at I39. A springI4I serves to engage arms I42 and I43 on each of the devices I31 andI38, in order that each depending annular collar section I54, of theouter mold carrier devices H4, and the sliding element I45, dovetailedwith respect thereto, as illustrated in Fig. 4, may be gripped betweenthe corresponding roller and ball bearing devices I31 and I38, with aninwardly extending shoulder portion of I45 disposed between the sidesI46 of the roller bearing raceway I41 of the corresponding device I31,in order to hold the associated mold portion I3I at the desiredelevation.

In the same way, each lower inner section I32 is held by a preferablyheat-insulating bushing section I38, mounted on a roller bearing deviceI49, pivoted to a ball bearing device I5I, as indicated at I52. A springI53 serves to engage arms I54 and I55 on the devices I49 and I5I, inorder that the depending annular collar section I56 and associatedsliding element I51, d ovetailed with respect thereto, as illustrated inFig. 4, may be gripped between the roller and ball bearing devices I59and I5I, with the inwardly extending shoulder portion I58 disposedbetween the sides I59 of the roller bearing raceway IBI of the deviceI49, in order to hold the associated mold portion I32 at the desiredelevation, corresponding with that of the mold portion I3I.

The means for oscillating the lower portions I21 of the molds during themolding operation comprises shafts I62 which normally extend vertically,are rockably mounted in carrier devices I63, pivoted at I54 to anactuator carrying member I65 secured to the peripheral portion of themold-carrier spider 92, as by means of bolts I65. Each shaft I62 carriesat its upper end a head I61, from which extends a flange or lug I58adapted to fit between flanges corresponding with those designated I91and I96 as illustrated in Fig. 7 of said Patent No. 2,393,265,previously referred to, and depending from the corresponding lower moldsections I3I and I32, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6, for the purpose ofimparting oscillatory motion thereto, without preventing movement ofsaid sections toward and away from one another. Each head I51 is sopositioned that when the'corresponding mold carrier is drawn inwardly bymeans of the cam III, as from the position illustrated in Fig. 5, tothat of Fig. 6, said depending mold flanges straddle the upstandingflange I63, thereby interlocking the head I61 with the mold sections I3!and I32 for transmitting the desired oscillatory motion to the latter.

For imparting oscillatory motion to each head I61, I provide bevel gearsegments I69, secured to the lower ends of the shafts I62, and meshingwith bevel gears I'II, secured to normally horizontal shafts I12,rotatably mounted in carrier devices I63, and each carrying at its innerend a crank arm I13, provided with a roller I14 traveling in a cam trackI15, which is serpentine in side elevation in order to provide thedesired oscillatory motion to said crank, which motion is in turntransmitted to the corresponding head I52.

Each carrier I83 is also provided with a roller I16 engaging a cam I11carried by a casting I 18, secured to the shelf casting 9 i, andrigidified with respect to the casting 6| by diagonally extending bracesI19. The cam I11 is of such formation that it causes each carrier deviceI83 to- 6 rise, when it reaches the desired phase of its motion, aboutits pivot I64 and raise the engaged lower mold portions I21 into contactwith the corresponding upper mold portions I26, or from the positionshown in Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9.

The upper mold portion I26 of each mold I25 is initially separated fromthe lower mold portion I21 by a horizontally sliding plate I8I providedwith a lug I82 secured to its lower surface, and with a portion receivedin a notch I83 in the upper end of a lever I84, pivoted at I to abracket I96 depending from the corresponding mold carrier I88. The lowerend of each lever I84 carries an operating lug I81 engageable and movedby push rod I38, square or non-circular in section to prevent turningthereof, which reciprocates in the member I65 and carries at its lowerend a roller I39 normally heldin engagement with operating cam I9I bymeans of a coil return spring I92, so that when its mold carrier I98 ismoved inward from the position illustrated in Fig. 5, to thatillustrated in Fig. 6, the pivot I85 of the lever I 84 is moved acorresponding distance. The plate I3I is withdrawn from the positionbetween the upper and lower portions of its mold I25, as illustrated inFig. 9, allowing the lower portions I3I and I32 to be movedintoengagement with the corresponding upper portions I28 and I29 when actionof the cam I9| causes the push rod I88 to move from full line to dottedpositionillustrated in Fig. 5, and turn the lever I84 clockwise to itsextreme right hand position.

In order to provide for blowing the mass of glass I93 in each mold,after reception thereof from an associated glass furnace I94, I providea plunger I95 for each mold. Each plunger is slidably movable in acorresponding plunger housing or sleeve I96, which is independentlyoperable by a lever I96 pivoted to the carrying plate 91 or I91, andcarrying a roller I98 at its inner end, movable in a cam track I99carried by an angle iron 29L in turn mounted on the ann-ular plate I62.The outer end of each lever I93 is forked as indicated at 292, andembraces a sleeve 2B3 slidable on the plunger housing I05, forresiliently acting thereon through a coil spring 294, disposed betweensaid sleeve and an annular member 265, connected to the plunger housingI98 as by means of a set screw 296. Each sleeve 293 normally abutsagainst a bushing 201, secured on the plunger housing I96 in any desiredmanner, as by set screw means 298. The housing I96 is shown held inelevated position in Fig. 5, by the lever I96, through engagementbetween the sleeve 293 and bushing 291.

The lower portion of each housing I06 is beveled, forming a blow-headindicated at 299, to lit the correspondingly flared upper end portion ofthe corresponding mold I25, when it is lowered thereto, as shown mostclearly in Fig. '7, thereby providing for accurately centering saidhousing and the associated plunger I95 with respect to its mold.

The lower portion of each housing I98 carries means for pushing down thecorresponding sliding elements I45 and I51, to separate the moldsections as shown in Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8, so that the sliding plate I8I, shown in Fig. 5, may be inserted to provide a glass-receiving pocketin the upper portion I26 of the mold I25. For this purpose, a plate 2IIis secured to each plunger housing I96, as by tap bolts 2 I2, and at itsouter ends provided with bolts 2 I3 and 2 I4 adjustably mounted thereinand with their lower ends spaced the proper groove v22 2.

a registering porter groove 25 3-.

I against the block ElS.

"part 126. "sleeve 232', instead of having the'plunger and position forthe purpose previously mentioned.

Each plunger 95 carries alroller Eidmounted near its upper end andtraveling .in the track formed by the channel-shaped caminember 59,which is braced by the members 51, 58, 5'5, 54 and 55,previouslymentioned, whereby .said plunger is moved up and. down withrespect to its mold I25, as'desired.

In order to blow glass articles in the molds E25, compressed air isintroduced to the .plungers I95 by pipes 215, which connect with an airsupply lines I] through ports .2! 8 ma block 219, sliding one. block 22!formed with a registering port or The block'tzl is resiliently pressedagainst the rotating block 2E9, carried by connecting -.member as, bysprings 2.23 surrounding studs 2'24, fixed to the block 22| and slidablein supporting'bracirets 225 secured to posts 52, as shown in Fig. 1.

Compressed airpasses to the lower portion or tip of each plunger 6%along a fluted or ribbed valve stem 225, shown in detail-in Fig. 7, andout of the valve opening 22'! when the stern 226 is raised with respectto the plunger 595, as by means of cam 58 acting on roller 228 carriedby the upper end of said valve stem. Each valve 229 is kept closed, asshown in Fig. 7, by a coil spring 23! acting between a collar 232secured to the upper portion of the stem and a stop 233- extending fromthe head 234 which receives compressed air from pipe are, and is-closedby a nut and associated packing; 235.

The blow head 23's is desirably formed with a cavity or enlargement 2stto receive a sleeve 23?, the upper portion of which snugly fits the.enlargement. while the lower portion is spaced therefrom, as indicatedat 233, to allow for pas sage of air pierebetween. The sleeve .23? isdesirably secured in place as by means of a set The groove 2412 definesthe upper edge of the air 1 passage space 238.

A pipe or tube v243 connects with the blow head 269 adjacent the upperend of the groove 24!, theother .id of said pipe 2&3 connecting with theblock 2E9, sliding on block. 22! formed with As previously isresiliently pressed In addition to the air supply line iii, the block22! also carries a vacesoribed, the block '226 uuniline 245 so that airmay thereby be withdrawn from the annular space 23.3 of the blow headalong through connecting pipe 2 23.

This vacuum connection is to assist the plunger 495 in causing glass tobe molded between the outer peripheral surface of the plunger tip andsleeve 23"! and the upper portion of the mold The purpose of having aseparate blow head formed to provide the desired passage therebetween,is so that changes maybe convenr r molded'to provide the desired edge ofthe bulbor other article being formed. When adifferent article is made,the sleeve member 237 vmay be replaced by another of correspondinglychanged configuration. For similar reasons the tip 247 of the plunger 1!is desirably formedseparateand secured to thelower end of themainplunger portion by cooperating threads248 on theparts, as shown mostclearly in Fig- 12.

Byvirtue of making the tip 24'! and the sleeve 23'! separate from theassoicated parts they, if desired, may be made of Nichrome or morerefractory material (than that of the main mold, plunger and blow-headportions which may be of steel), or even of such expensive metal asplatinum-rhodium, because of their relatively small sizathereby making aconstruction which is very durabie. It is particularly desirable thatthe sleeve .23! be formed of very durable material, in View of itsrelatively thin construction, if used in the manufacture of bulbs of thecharacter illustrated, for which the apparatusnow discussed isparticularly designed.

Molten glassis desirably supplied ,to the molds, one by one, by means ofa. stream 249 flowing freely from the glass melting furnace I94 throughan orifice 25! provided by a die 25.2, which die is preferably formed ofan alloy of platinumand rhodium, such as described and claimed in theRichardson Patent No. 2,190,296, dated February 13, 1940. v

The temperature of said stream is desirably maintained uniform bysighting a radiation pyrometer 253 thereon and controlling the heat ofthe furnace by means of apparatus such as described and claimed in theRichardson Patent No. 2,116,450, dated May 3, 1938, so that an accurately controlled amount'of glass is fed to'each mold as it passes underthe stream 249 issuing from said furnace.

In orderto out off the glass when the desired amount has been placed ina mold, Without leaving a string, and transfer the stream 249 to theadjacent mold without waste, I may employ rollers 25%,one associatedwith each plunger I95, so that at the "proper time the correspondingroller will cut the glass stream, thereby terminating the filling of onemold, and transfer said stream to the adjacent mold.

Such an operation is illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 17 to 20,inclusive, of Patent No. 2,393,265, previously referred to, Figs. 17 and20 representing the position of the roller and the associated mold, whenthe roller is just starting to sever the glass stream, Fig. ISrepresenting the subsequent position where the glass stream has beensevered and carried over by theroller preparatorytoletting it drop intoadjacent -mold in position B, and Fig. 19 representing the finalposition where the glass stream has been actually shifted from the moldin position .A to that in position B.

The means for shifting each roller 254 so that it cuts off the glassstream at the desired point and transfers it from .one mold to the next,is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5 of the present application and in Figs.1, 6, 15 and 16 of said Patent No. 2,393,265. Each rollert254 is mountedon a shaft 255, desirably carried by ball bearings .ill arms 258 and25'! extending downward from one of the castings I54. On the innerend'of each shaft 255 is mounted a spur gear 258,.meshing with aspurgear segment 259, desirably carried by roller bearings on a stubshaft extending from the casting ifili. Secured to said gear segment 259is a crank arm 26f carrying .a-.roller .252, which is intermittentlyactuated by engagement with a cam 263 mounted on the frame of themachine, as the rollers 254 are carried around with the molds duringoperation.

The engagement of the cam 263 with a roller 262 occurs when it isdesired to twirl that roller, so that its peripheral speed is greaterthan the speed of the glass stream, at the time the actual cut oif ofthe glass occurs. After cutting 01f, the roller passes off the cam 263and is restored to its initial position by its spring 264 acting betweena bushing 265 secured thereto and the associated arm 251.

Operation of embodiment of Figs. 1 to 13 incl.

From the foregoing description of the elements of the machine, it willbe seen that I have provided for the filling of a series of molds inorder, the cutting of the stream of glass to one mold and thetransferring of said stream to the next, the pressing of the glass bythe plunger in the upper mold portion, the removal of the separatorelement from between the upper and lower portions of the mold, thebringing of the lower portion of said mold to the upper portion, thefurther downward movement of the plunger into a mass of glass, topartially shape it, the blowing of the glass article or bulb bycompressed air, and the opening of the mold and discharge of thearticle.

The detailed operation involves first, the loading of a mold upperportion I26 from the stream 249 of glass at a temperature of say about1200 C., as specified in Patent No. 2,116,450, previously referred to,where the glass is very fluid, with a viscosity of about 1000 poises,when the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 5. See article by H. K.Richardson, entitled "Flow of Glass Through Tubular Orifices beginningon p. 239, vol. 17, No. 8, Journal of The American Ceramic Society, Aug.1934. Although associated roller 254 serves for cutting off the glassstream during normal operation, yet if for any reason it is desired toremove the glass stream while the machine is stopped, withoutshuttingoff the glass melting furnace, said stream may be blown away bythe-jet or stream of compressed air issuing from a nozzle or tip 265'supplied by pipe 266 supported on shield 261.

- When the desired amount of glass I93 has been applied to the moldabove the sliding plate IBI, as shown in Fig. 5, rotation of the moldcarrying spider 82 carries the particular mold under consideration fromthe position designated as I in Fig. 2 through that designated as II,the mold being drawn inwardly on account of the formation of the camIII, and at the same time said mold is moved angularly by the roller 92travelling in its cam track 93, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

This angular movement, superimposed on the rotary or circumferentialmovement of the mold carrier I98, is what causes the mold I to move at afaster rate than the corresponding roller 254, after the glass stream249 has been out therefrom, as indicated in Figs. 17 to 20, inclusive,of said Patent No. 2,393,265. In other words, the angular movement ofthe mold carrier, induced by the cam track 93, first causes aspeeding-up and then a slowing down of the resultant movement of themold I25, as it approaches the filling position I, so that it is overrunby the associated glass switch roller 254, and the glass stream 249 iscut off and transferred to the following mold.

After this the mold moves faster, as the angular movement is thenaugmenting its circumferential speed, as shown by the increase inangular distance between the mold carriers on the radius II in Fig. 2and the adjacent molds, as compared with that on the radius I and itsadjacent molds. Therefore, each mold hesitates or momentarily stops asit reaches the position I in Fig. 2', where the glass stream pours intothe upper part I26 of said mold, above the plate ISI, until it is cutoff and transferred to the succeeding mold, after which the first'moldspeeds up, and is traveling at practically normal circumferential speedby the time it reaches the position II in Fig. 2, although in thisposition it is still moving inward along a radius.

During its inward radial movement, from the position I to position II,the sliding plate IBI moves with the mold so that it is not at this timewithdrawn from between the upper mold sections I26 and the lower moldsections I27.

From the time of the deposit of the glass in the upper portion I26 ofthe mold, until the plate IBI is withdrawn, the temperature drops fromone where the glass is very fluid, or of watery consistency, to onewhere it is sufliciently viscous for working, that is, to about 1000 C.,where the viscosity is about 10,000 poises, reference being had to thearticle by H. K. Richardson in the Journal of the American CeramicSociety previously referred to, and assuming the employment of glasscustomarily used for blowing bulbs for incandescent electric lamps,

corresponding substantially with glass B of Fig. 9 of said article.

This working temperature is, of course, above that of the lower limit ofthe working range where the viscosity is about 1,000,000 poises,reference being bad to page 159, vol. XIV, No. 56, Dec. 1930, and page279, vol. XV, No. 60, Dec. 1931, both of the Journal of the Society ofGlass Technology. Such a viscosity has been found to correspond withabout 800 C. when usingv the kind of glass previously referred to: seeFig. 3 of the article by Howard R. Lillie of Corning Glass Works,entitled Viscosity Measurements in Glass presented at the annualmeeting, American Ceramic Society, Chicago, 111., Feb. 1929, and foundon page 523, Vol.12, Journal of the American Ceramic Society, May- Sept.1929.

A further inward movement of the mold carrier I08, as it revolves fromposition II to position III, carries the mold I25 so that it underliesits plunger I95, blow-head 209, and overlies and interlockingly engageswith the oscillatin head I61, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. Theengagement with the oscillating head makes provision for rocking oroscillating the lower portions of the associated mold, by means of thecorresponding arm I13 and roller I14 which travels in cam track I75, toprevent formation of seams during the subsequent blowing operation.

As the mold revolves further, it reaches the position designated by IVin Fig. 2 and shown in detail in Fig. 7. In this position, the plungercasing, blow-head, and plunger, which were alined with the mold in theposition of Fig. 6, have now been lowered so that the bevelled and orblow-head portion 269 of said casing fits in the bevelled upper endportions of the upper mold sections I26 and I29, thereby insuringaccurate centering and preventing leakage while making the bulb, and, atthe same time, the plunger I is depressed to partially form the mass ofglass I93 by compressing and causing it to rise, in the annular spacebetween the mold upper portion I26, and the sleeve 23? and the plungertip 247, so that upon further downward movement of the plunger to theposition shown in Fig. 8, assisted by suction from the vacuum connectionthrough pipe 243, said glass rises to completely fill said space asthere illustrated when the mold reaches the position designated by thereference character IV in Fig. 2.

As the mold moves further it reaches the position designatedV in Fig. 2,as shown in detail in Fig. 9. In this position, the cam I9I has movedroller I89 from full to dotted-line position, causes swinging of thelever I84 to the extreme right hand dotted position and a consequentwithdrawal of the supporting plate I8I from beneath the glass. Theinterval prior to thisrelease has afiorded sufficient time for saidglass to cool from freely-flowing molten to working condition, so thatinstead of running out of the mold like water, it merely sags into thelower portion slowly. The oscillating head I51, bein still engaged withthe lower portion of the mold, under the influence of the cam I'i'i onthe roller we, raises the lower mold sections I3I and I32 intoengagement with the upper mold sections I28 and I29, thereby completingthe mold for subsequent blowing of the glass therein.

As the mold moves further to the position designated VI in Fig. 2, theplunger I95 is further depressed as illustrated in detail in Fig. 10,partially shaping the glass by pushing it downwardly into the lowerportion of the mold, after which it immediately starts to withdraw.

When the mold reaches the position designated as VII in Fig. 2, theplunger has been withdrawn a distance designated by the arrow 268 andthe valve 229 opened, allowing compressed air to start expansion of themass of glass I93, as shown in Fig. 11. This blowing operation continuesfrom position VII to position VIII, and at the end of the period theglass article is fully distended in the mold, as shown in Fig. 12.During the blowing period, the plunger stays in the position representedin Figs. 11 and 12, the lower portion of the mold being oscillated bythe rocking movement of the head, due to the action of the cam I15 onthe roller I'M, thereby preventing the formation of seams and avoidingany-possibility that the glass article will stick to said mold.

When the mold reaches the position IX, as shown in Fig. 2, the cam I2Ihas operated on the roller H8 and caused the mold portions I28 and I3Ito be separated from those designated I29 and IE2, as shown in detail inFig. 13, while at the same time the plunger casing I536 movesdownwardly. Movement of said casing down beyond that positionillustrated in Fig. 13, depresses the sliding elements I45 and I5! tolower the mold portions I 3| and I32, and provide a space between themand the upper mold sections I28 and I29 to allow for a return of thesliding plate IBI. The opening of the mold allows the glass article 269to drop therefrom and slide from the machine as along a suitable chute 2H from which it is discharged. The head I67, at this point, has beendropped by the action of cam I'I'I',.to provide the necessary clearancefor the chute 2? I.

7 Further movement of the mold brings it open to suitable means, such asa water spray, not shown, for cooling and wetting (Fig. 2'), and it thenmoves outwardly to position I, where its sections have been movedtogether by the action of the cam I2I, and the sliding plate ISireturned to the position shown in Fig. 5, providing; with the upper moldsections I23 and IZe, a pocket for receiving another mass of glass I83The product The moid used with the apparatus,- heretofore described, isespecially designed for blowing glass bulbs 269, as illustrated in Fig.13. Such bulbs differ from those of conventional lamps in that the endportion ofeach neck is provided with screw threads 2Y2, correspondingwith the threads on a conventional medium-screw base for an incandescentelectric lamp.

" General remarks In view of the foregoing disclosure, it will be seenthat I have provided an improved apparatus in connection with moldingglass articles.

'By means of my invention, it is possible to accurately manufacture sucharticles because of the provision for measuring the amount of glass thatis introduced into the mold; It is possible to accurately measure theglass introduced into the mold, because the flowing of glass in thestream 249 is controlled by means of a radiation pyrometer, and thelength of the stream which forms the mass of glass I93 to be blown intothe finished article, is accurately cut off by means of thecorresponding switch roller 25 5, or other cut-off means such asdisclosed in Patent No. 2,393,265.

Not only is the amount of glass blown exactly determined by theapparatus of the invention, but this may be done without waste, exceptin the embodiment of Figs. 26 to 30, inclusive, of said Patent No.2,393,265 as, instead of blowing away or otherwise wasting the glassbetween filling times, said glass may be carried by the correspondingroller 25 i and deposited in the next mold, the operation being so quickthat the glass does not have time to solidify on the roller nor is theretime for any substantial amount of glass to accumulate thereon before itis transferred to the next mold.

On account of the manner in which the glass articles are formed, it ispossible to operate the machine at a high speed, a machine such as shownbeing operable with the mold spider 82 running from 6 to 8 revolutionsper minute, thus making it possible to manufacture 512 articles perminute.

Although I have shown my apparatus particularly adapted for themanufacture of bulbs suitable for incandescent electric lamps, it isobvious that I do not wish to be limited to this showing, as merelychanging the form of the molds makes it possible to manufacture otherkinds of glass articles. It will also be understood that I am notlimited to the use of any special kind of glass although, of course, thekind of glass will determine the temperature at which the glass furnaceis operated.

To briefly summarize or enumerate the steps of one embodiment of themethod of blowing glass articles which I have disclosed, it is statedthat said method involves the following:

7 1. Charge the top portion of a mold above a supporting separator witha measured quantity of glass so hot that it flows freely.

2. Bring blow-head, plunger, and associated sleeve into registry withtop of mold.

3. Press a portion of said glass into the annular space between plunger,sleeve and mold top to'be blown into a bulb or other article, inaccordance with the shape of the mold.

0. Further" depress said plunger portion 13 the ma'ss'of glass as itsags toward the bottom portion of the mold.

7. Withdraw .the' pluiiger slightly and at the same time introducecompressed air therethrough to blow the glass in the mold.

8. Oscillate the mold bottom during the blowing operation, in order toprevent sticking and the formation of seams.

9. Laterally separate the halves of the upper and lower mold portions toallow the finished glass article to drop therefrom.

10. Lower the mold bottom to allow for reintroduction of separator.

11. Moisten the mold in preparation for the next molding operation.

12. Slide separator between upper and lower mold portions to make readyfor next charge.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, itwill be understood that other modifications may be made within thespirit and scope of the appended claims, and that the machine is capableof close adjustment by changing one or more of the following factors:(1) the size of the die 252; (2) the temperature and composition of theglass; and (3) the speed of rotation of the machine, so thatthe volumeof glass deposited in each mold corresponds with the cubic content ofthe glass forming the article being molded, without appreciable excessor deficiency.

Although I have disclosed use of an imperforate sliding plate l8l forseparating the lower mold sections from the upper mold sections, whichsections are relatively movable with respect to one another, it will beunderstood that I contemplate the use of a mold I25 that has upper andlower sections immovable with respect to one another and a separator 18!which slides in a slot in said mold and which has an aperturecorresponding with the mold neck aperture.

When said separator aperture registers with said mold neck it, ineffect, unites the upper and lower portions of said mold into a completemold, and allows molten glass l93 if in the mold upper portion, to sagthrough said aperture.

The modification of my invention described in the preceding paragraph isillustrated in Figs. 14 to 18, inclusive. The operation of thisapparatus is identical with that of the preceding embodiment, exceptthat upper and lower elements'of the mold I25 are not brought togetherafter the withdrawal of a plate from between upper and lower sectionsthereof, as the upper and lower portions thereof are verticallyimmovable with respect to one another, and the sliding plate l8| isalways disposed between said sections. When its aperture 382 is alignedwith the mold neck, as illustrated in Fig. 16, it completes said mold orbridges the gap between the upper and lower sections thereof, forming ineffect portions of said mold.

However, because of the necessary separation of the mold laterally todischarge the blown glass article as illustrated in Fig. 17, the slidingplate l8l is formed in two parts, that is, an inner part -38l carryingthe lug I82 received in notch I83 in the upper end or operating leverI84 which parts of course, correspond with the correspondingly numberedparts without the exponent a, as described in connection with thepreceding embodiment, and an outer part 380. The latter has longitudinalapertures 382' and 383 which respectively slidably receive rods 384 and385,

fixed to and projecting longitudinally from the end of the part 38LExternally of the part 380 are respectively mounted coil springs 386 and38'! on said rods 384 and 385, said springs being held compressedagainst the outer end of said sliding plate section 388 by suitablemeans such as a cross member 388 fixed to the ends of said rods, so thatsaid sliding plate normally tends to stay in engagement with the innerplate portion 38l, as illustrated in Figs. 14, 15, 16 and 18.

When the aperture 382 registers with the mold neck aperture, as viewedin Fig. 16, the lug portion 389 on the end of the sliding plate portion380 engages the outer mold carrier device H4, corresponding with thepart N4 of the first embodiment. Upon opening the mold to release theglass article 269*, as viewed in Fig. 17, the outer sliding plateportion 380 is pulled away from the inner portion 38I, as viewed in Fig.17, thereby not interfering with the release of the glass article 269 Inusing such a separator glass is poured into the upper portion of themold when the separator is disposed with an imperforate portion insupporting relationship to initially hold said glass in the mold upperportion. When said glass has cooled to working consistency, as from1,000 poises to 10,000 poises, the separator plate instead of beingentirely withdrawn is merely moved so that its aperture registers withthe mold upper portion and releases the glass, allowing it to sag intothe mold lower portion. This avoids the necessity for moving the moldportions together, even after release of the glass, as the portions ofthe separator defining the release aperture therethrough bridge thespace between the mold upper and lower portions. Otherwise the apparatusand its operation may be identical with that of the first embodiment.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for forming glass articles comprising a rotatable spider, aseries of mold carriers supported by said spider and rotatably andradially movable with respect thereto, a mold secured to each carrierand divided horizontally and vertically into upper and lower sidesections, cam means for moving each carrier and opening and closing theside sections of each mold, a rotatable plate carrying for each mold acombined plunger housing, with blow-head having aisleeve projectingtherebelow, and an associated plungenmeans for supplying air underpressure to each plunger, each sleeve closely fitting its plunger, butwith its lower end space of such a size that when it is moved into itsmold an annular space of desired radial dimension is provided between itand the upper sections of said mold cam means for moving each plungerand housing independently of one another, axially toward and away fromtheir mold, a connection for withdrawing air from between each blow-headand sleeve, while the associated plunger is being operated, to causeglass to be molded in the annular space between said sleeve and theupper section of its mold, an air valve in each plunger. cam means foropening and closing each. valve to at the proper time supply air to amass of glass in its mold, means carried by said housing for depressingthe lower sections of its mold, means slidable between each pair ofupper and lower mold sections to support a mass of glass in the uppersections, and means for moving said slidable means to allow said glassto sag into the lower sections of said mold prior to introduction of theplunger thereinto and the blowing of the glass article.

2. Apparatus for forming glass articles comprising a rotatablemold-carrying spider, a series 15' of mold carriers supported by saidspider and rotatably and radially movable with respect thereto, a moldsecured to each carrier and .divided horizontally and vertically intoupper and lower side sections, separator means which may be disposedbetween the upper and lower sections of .each mold for initiallysupporting a charge of glass therein, means for moving said separator,after charging said upper sections, in order to allow the glass to saginto said lower sections, a rotatable plate carrying for each mold acombined plunger housing, with blow-head having a sleeve projectingtherebelow, and an associated p1nnger,'each sleeve closely fitting itsplunger, but with its lower end of such a size that when it is movedinto its mold an annular space of desired radial dimension is providedbetween it and the upper sections of said mold, means for moving eachcombined housing into engagement with the upper sections of its mold andforcing its plunger into a charge of glass in its mold to partially formthe desired-article, a connection for withdrawing air from between eachblowhead and sleeve, while the'associated plunger is being operated, tocause glass of said charge to be molded in the annular space betweensaid sleeve and the upper section of its mold, means for introducingcompressed air from said plungerto distend the mass of glass in itsmold, and means for laterally separating the side sections of said moldto allow the glass article to drop therefrom.

'3. Apparatus for forming glass articles comprising aseries of moldcarriers revolvable about, and radially movable with respect to, an axisand a mold secured to each carrier and divided horizontally into upperand lower sections, each of which sections is divided into sidesections, means for moving each carrier and opening and closing the sidesections of said mold, rotatable means carrying for each mold a combinedplunger housing, with blow-head having a sleeve projecting therebelowand an associated plunger, each sleeve closely fitting its plunger, butwith its lower end of such a size that when it is moved into its mold anannular space of desired radial dimension is provided between it and theupper sections of said mold, means for supplying 'air'under pressure toand moving each plunger and housing independently of one another axiallytoward and away "from their molds, a connection for withdrawing air frombetween each blow-head and sleeve, while the associated plunger is beingoperated, to cause glass to be molded in the annular space between saidsleeve and the upper section of its mold, an air valve in each plunger,means for opening and closing each valve to at theproper time supply airto a mass of glass in the associated mold, means carried by-each housingfor depressing the lower sections of its mold, means slidable betweeneach pair of upper and lower sections to support a mass of glass in saidupper sections, and means for moving each slidable'means to allow saidglass to sag into the lower sections of said mold, prior to introductionof the associated plunger thereinto and the blowing of a glass articleby air passing through said plunger.

Apparatus for forming glass articles, comprising a mold, a combinedplunger housing, with blow-head having a sleeve projecting therebelow,and an associated plunger, said sleeve closely'fitting its plunger butwith its lower end of such a size that when it is moved into said moldan "annularspace of desired radial dimenslonisprovided-between l t-andthe moldgmean's 116 for moving said plunger and housing independently ofone another axially toward and away from said .mold, and a cBnnectionfor withdrawing air from between said blow-headand sleeve, while theplunger is being operated, to cause glass to be molded in theannularspace between said sleeve and the mold.

5. Apparatus for forming glass articles comprising a mold consisting ofupper and lower sections, a separator plate for said sections, means formoving said separator plate to and from supporting position between"said sections, a combined plunger housing with blow-head having asleeve prOjecting therebelow, and an associated plunger, said sleeveclosely fitting its plunger, but with its lower end of such a size thatwhen it is moved into the mold, after the introduction of molten glassinto said upper section, an annular space of desired radial dimension isprovided between it and the upper section of said mold, said plungerbeing movable through the upper and into the lower sectionof said moldto act on such glass after the separator plate has been moved to releaseposition and the glass has sagged towardasaid lower .section, aconnection for withdrawing air from between the blow-head andsleeve,while the plunger is being operated, to cause glass to be molded in theannular space between saidsleeve .and the upper section of said mold,and means for in troducing air into the *glass acted on by said plungerto distend it in said mold.

6. Apparatus for forming igla'ss articles comprising a rotatablen'ro'ld-carrying spider, a series or" mold carriers supported .by saidspider and rotatably and radially movable with respect thereto, a moldsecured to each carrier and divided horizontally and vertically intoupper and lower side sections, a separator slidable in a slot disposedbetween the upper and lower sections of each mold for initiallysupporting a charge of glass therein, said separator being formed as twoparts movable away from each other and resiliently urged together, theengaging portions of said parts being notched to together form anaperture corresponding with the interior of the mold at-the slot, meansfor moving said separator after 'charging'said upper sections in orderto allowtheglass to sag into said lower sections, a rotatable platecarrying foreach mold a combined plunger housing, with blow-head havinga sleeve projecting 'therebelow, and an associated plunger, eachsleeveclosely fitting its plunger, but-with its lower end of such a size thatwhen it shoved into it's mold an annular space of de-. sire'dradialdimension'isprovided between it and the upper sections of said mold,means for .m'oving 'each combined housing into engagement with the uppersection of its mold .and forcing its plunger into a charge of glass inits mold to partially form the desired article, a connection forwithdrawing air from between each blowhead and sleeve, while theassociated plunger is being operated, to cause glass of said charge tobe molded in the "annular space between said sleeve and the uppersection of its mold, means forintroducing compressed air fromsa'i'dplunger to 'distend the mass of glass in its mold, and means forsimultaneously laterally separating the side sections of said mold andthe parts of said separator to allow the glass article to drop from themold.

ALFRED L'AIDIG.

(References zonifollowing page) REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 18 Number Name Date 2,091,238 Gordon Aug.24, 1937 2,116,450 Richardson et a1. May 3, 1938 2,201,049 Moore May 14,1940 2,393,265 Richardson et a1; Jan. 22, 1946 Name Date Neville Nov.20, 1394 OTHER REFERENCES Blair et a1. Dec. 17, 1901 Procedures inExper. Physics, Strong et a1. Swan Nov. 3, 1904 Published by PrenticeHall, Inc., N.Y., 1938, pages Burrows Nov. 19, 1929 5 to 7. Smith Feb.7, 1933 Handbook of the Glass Industry, Scholes, Rowe June 13, 1933Published by Ogden Watney Publishers, Inc., Geiger et a1. July "I, 1936N. Y., 1941, page 67.

